Bayelsa Polls: Ohanaze Ndigbo Endorses Diri
By Amos Odhe.
The apex Igbo sociocultural organization, the Ohanaze Ndigbo, Bayelsa State chapter on Monday endorsed the state governor, Senator Douye Diri for a second term.
Century news update gathered this at a meeting convened by the group in Yenagoa, the State capital in which the leadership of the group said though the group is apolitical, they have resolved to work with the incumbent administration of the state governor, Senator Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo due to their track record of achievements in the past three years in office.
Speaking with Newsmen shortly after their meeting, the national financial Secretary of the Ohanaze Ndigbo Youth wing (Worldwide), Hon.(Chief) Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa said the unity of Igbos in the state was paramount, noting that though there were leadership crises which hitherto rocked the state chapter of the group, the national Secretariat of the Ohanaze Ndigbo has intervened and has therefore accorded recognition to the Mr Ekwem Remitus – led chapter of the Ohanaze Ndigbo in the state upon fulfilling the mandatory requirements for registration.
“As a national executive of the Ohanaze Ndigbo Youth wing (worldwide) and the South-South coordinator of the Ohanaze Ndigbo Youth wing, I told the leadership of the body here in the state that I’ld not work with any unregistered group or affiliate body of the Ohanaze Ndigbo until they’re registered with a proof.
“However, while the Mr Onuma Johnson’s led faction of the Ohanaze Ndigbo went about parading itself without registration even after being suspended, the other group led by Mr Ekwem Remitus was able to secure registration by the national Secretariat of the Ohanaze Ndigbo, and so I’d to work with them.
“I’ve been preaching peace, I took the matter to the state deputy governor and he has been doing all within his powers to bring lasting peace and unity to the Ohanaze Ndigbo, Bayelsa State chapter. Our unity as an ethnic group is important to us as a people. I’ve always called on all to work together for a peaceful and united Ohanaze Ndigbo in the State”, he said.
Century news update reports that at the endorsement meeting, Barr. Agama Vitus Okonkwo was also unveiled as the chairman of 2023 Igbo day celebration in the state.
In his acceptance speech, Okonkwo promised to give the group a befitting Igbo day celebration, saying the event would be held on the 29th day of September, 2023 in the state, advising Igbos to be wary of any body or group who comes under the guise of Igbo day celebration to collect levies or demand for money from any person of Igbo extraction in the state.
Meanwhile, the duo of the chairman, Igbo traders association, Bayelsa State chapter, who also doubles as the Chairman of Phone village, Yenagoa, Prince Williams Eze, and the Ohanaze Ndigbo Women wing Coordinator, Gbarain clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area, Mrs Chika Okonkwo have restated their continued commitment to the unity and progress of the Igbo ethnic nationality in the state.
The duo in their separate responses while fielding questions from Newsmen during the meeting of the group thanked Hon.(Chief) Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa and others for ensuring a peaceful resolution of the lingering crises in the state chapter of the Ohanaze Ndigbo, just as they called on the Mr Onuma Johnson’s faction of the group to toe the path of Peaceful coexistence.
